Artificial limb joint construction



May 7, 1935. w J. D|D|ER 2,000,066

ARTIFICIAL LIMB JOINT CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 25, 1953 Q 4 y v/AAA ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet l I y 1 w. J. DIDIER 2,000,066

ARTIFICIAL LIMB JOINT CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented May 7, 1935 UNITED STATES;

H i 7' J H 2,000,066

PATENT; OFFICE.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB JOINT CONSTRUCTION Y William J. Didier, Racine, Wis. Application November 25, 1933, SerialNo. 699,697

. 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a joint for an artificial limb and to an artificial limb construction, and is particularly directed to a construction for amputations above the knee.

Objects of this invention are to provide an artificial limb joint, the construction of [which has extreme strength, which resists both direct pressure, as when the weight of the user is suddenly thrown upon the artificial limb, and which resists side pressure, or unevenly applied pressure, without subjecting any part thereof to excessive strain, and which has widely spaced ball bearings that transmit all pressure from one portion of the limb to the other.

Further objects are to provide a joint" for an artificial limb which runs or turns entirely upon widely spaced ball bearings, and which swings or rocks with the utmost ease.

Further objects are to provide novel construction for returning the limb and for checking it at the proper place, to provide a single spring which serves both as the return means and as the check, which is silent and positive in operation, and which does not stretch in use, thereby maintaining a fixed position at which the limb is checked irrespective of the length of time the joint is in use.

A further object is to provide an artificial limb joint of such construction that'the upper portion of the joint is rigidly and firmly secured to the upper leg member without the use or any auxiliary screws or other fastening means.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:--

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through an artificial limb, with parts broken away, which shows the joint intransverse section as actually applied.

Figure 2 is an enlarged se line 22 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section through the joint removed from the limb.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3. I

Figure 5 is a view of the spring rest removed from the rest of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the artificial limb comprises an upper portion I, which may be called the thigh portion, and a lower portion 2, which may be called the lower leg portion, The upper member or thigh-portion is provided with a rounded lower bottom part 3 which projects downwardly, as may be seen from Figures 1 and 2, into the lower leg portion 2, although clearing such leg portion, that is to say, remaining out of contact therewith in all positions of swinging of the lower leg portion.

tional view on the The joint comprises a 'body portion formed of; a composite sleeve, the sleeve itself being com- (ore-2) M I posed of two members 4 and 5, see particularly Figures Zand 3, one of which, for example the member 5,. is' provided with a. threaded shank 6 oireduced diameter which fits into an internally' threaded portion .1 of the member 4. I

Between these members a spring carrying rest spring rest is shown to an enlarged scale in Figure 5; This spring carrying rest is bored out,

as" indicated at 9 in Figures 1 and 5, to receive, the cylindrical members 4 and 5 forming the body or main s1eeve, so that these members fit directly beneath and contact with the bored out or'arched portion 9 of the spring support 8.

In-additiomthe member 8'is provided with a tongue or central web II] which is apertured and through which the extension or shank ,6 of the member 5 passes, so that this web I0 or central tongue is clamped tightly between the members 4 and 5 when such members are screwed 'together.

' In addition to this, the upper leg member I is provided with cylindricalrecesses or bored out.

parts II and I2which terminate in shoulders against which the shouldered heads I3 and IA of the members Iland 5 respectively engage.

It is to be noted from reference'to Figures 2, 3 and 4 that the headed or shouldered members I3 and IA are each provided with spanner wrench receiving slots I2.

In addition to this, the cylindrical body portions of the members 4 and'5 fit accurately within thecorrespondingly bored out portions of the upper leg member I, as'shown in Figure 2, so that when the two members 4 and 5 are tightly locked together and clamped against the central web III of the member '8, they also tightly bind anl lock themselves to the upper leg member without requiring the use of any screws or auxwhich the end portions of the member 8 rest when its central web I0 is clamped between the members 4 and 5. Thus each of these three parts 4, 5, and 8 is securely locked in'a rigid and firm manner to the upper leg portion I.

A pair of ball bearings each provided with an outer race I1 and an inner race I8 are provided I for opposite ends of the joint. The outer races I8 fit securely within the socketed enlargements I3 and I4 at the ends of the members 4 and 5 the balls of course being positioned between members 4 and 5 and frictionally animechani cally free thereof.

Supportingarms 2| and 22 are secured to the lower leg member 2 and are apcrtured, to, receive the bolt 20, such bolt'or elongated screw being headed at one end, as indicated at 23 in Figure 2, and being threaded at the other end, as indicated at 24:. 7

The members 2| and 22 are provided with disk-like rounded upper ends 25; and 26 which fit'within the recesses H and i2 formed, in the upper leg member I and which are out of contact with the upper leg portion.

The member 25 is screw threaded upon the threaded portion 24 of the bolt and is locked thereto by means of a lock nut 21. This lock nut is preferably provided with a transverse slot, as indicated, so. as to receive a spanner wrench and allow it to be locked tightly to thereby tightly lock the bolt against unscrewing.

The bolt 20is drawn up. tight, as shownv in Figures 2 and 3, thereby clamping the .inner races l8 tightly against the ends of the spacing sleeve l9 and tightly against the inner bosses formed on the disks 25 and 26 ofthe members 2| and 22, as shown in Figure2.

When the lower leg member is rocked with reference to the upper leg member, the members 2| and 22, the bolt 20, and thesleeve I9, together with the inner races I8, rockas a unit and the outer races H are held by, theimembers l3, and M. mitted solely through the; agency of the ball bearings and a very free unhampered rocking motion is thus provided.

Means are provided for returning the lower leg to its original or extendedposition, as shown in full lines in Figure 1, after the lower leg has been rocked rearwardly for example to the dotted line position as. shown in, Figure 1. This means also in the present invention constitutes at the same time a check for checking the forward swinging motion of the leg and to stop; itat a predetermined fixed point which is positive and which is maintained, throughout. the long. period of operation, of the device. 7 i

This means comprises a, flat leaf spring 28 which is secured to the upper side-of the spring support or member 8 and clamped thereto by means of a plate 29. This plate and the memher 8 are each curvedtowards the-rear; and it. will be seen that the plate. 29 is provided, witha downward extension 30 provided with. an out-; wardly turned lip 3|. This plate is held locked to the member 8 by means of screws 32 soas to tightly and securely clamp the spring 28 in place. The lower end of thespring is clamped to an anchored block 33' by means of a plate 34, such plate being held in place by screws 35, such screws also passing through the lower. leg- 7 member.

It is. preferable toprovide a felt or other pad ding 35 for the upper legmember in front of the spring 28 and to provide a felt or other packing 31 .on the inner side. of the lower leg, member 2 against which; the spring maybear.

Thus the entire weight of the bOdY is trans This also cushions the spring and prevents any noise during the operation of the spring.

In using the device the user merely places his weight upon the artificial limb while the parts are in their locked or full line forward position, as. shown in Figure 1. After placing the other foot on the ground, he thereafter moves his leg forward allowing the lower leg to pivot about the joint, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. Upon slightly raising the foot of this leg from the ground, the lower leg swings forwardly due to the action of the spring 28, such spring acting,

aspreviously stated, as a combined restoring means and check. Obwiously when the spring is in the dotted line position shown in Figure 1,

.it will, exert a force tending to restore it and will correspondingly rock the lower leg forwarde ly., However, after the lower leg has rocked; for! wardly, further forward motion of the lower leg is. prevented due to the fact that the spring thenfbecomes taut and arrests further forward motion of the lower leg.

The spring does not. stretch and may be made as'wide as needed. It very readily and easily furnishes sufiicient restoring power and also furnishes at the same time a positive non-elongating checking means for stopping the forward motion of the lower limb at a predetermined point.

It, will be seen that a very simple and serviceable type of artificial limb construction and joint therefor has been provided by this invention which has a minimum number of easily produced and sturdy parts. Also it will be seen that there are no projecting portions which might cause annoyance to the user or which might detract from the appearance of the artificial limb. In addition to this, the limb is remarkably strong and will stand a suddenly applied. large weight or pressure and cannot be distorted, the ball bearings being provided to insure ease of operation and also being widely spaced to pre vent warping or binding of the parts. The utmost lateral rigidity is provided by this construction, while at the same time securing the maximum freedom and ease of operation.

In addition tothis, the parts are so-made that they all: readily lock together as hereinbefore describedin a simple and reliable manner without. the use of any auxiliary screws, bolts, or other fastening means.

This. device has been, actually used even for double amputations above the knee. It is,obvious that. the maximum security and the maximum positiveness of operation is required where thissevere condition has to be met. Even under these conditions the device functions perfectly in actual practice.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood, that such description isintended as illustrative rather than limiting, as the invention may be variouslyembodied and is to be interpreted as claimed.

I claim:

1. An artificial limb joint construction comprising an upper member and a. lower member pivotally-joined together, a spring rest carried by said upper member and having a rearwardly projecting portion, and a leaf spring secured adjacent its upper portion to said spring, rest and extending over the rearwardly projectingportion of said spring rest and attached adjacent the lower portion of said spring to said.

lower member, whereby said. spring urges; said lowerv member towards a forwa d. position, and;

arrests the forward swinging motion of said lower member at a predetermined point with respect to said upper member.

2. An artificial limb joint construction com-' jacent its upper portion to said spring rest and extending over the rearwardly projecting portion or" said spring rest and attached adjacent the lower portion of said spring to said lower member, whereby said spring urges said'lower member towards a forward positionand arrests the forward swinging motion of said lower member at a predetermined point with respect to said upper member, and cushioning means for said spring.

3. An artificial limb joint construction comprising an upper member. "and a lower member pivotally joined together, a spring rest carried by said upper member and having a rearwardly projecting portion, a leaf spring secured adjacent its upper portion to said spring'rest and extending over the rearwardly projecting portion of said spring rest and attached adjacent the lower portion of said spring to said lower member, whereby said spring urges said lower member towards a forward position and arrests the forward swinging motion of said lower member at a predetermined point with respect to said upper member, and cushioning meansforsaid spring, said cushioning means being carried jointly by said upper and lower members' 4. An artificial limb joint construction comprising an upper member and a lower member pivotally joined together, a spring rest carried by said upper member and having a rearwardly projecting portion, a leaf spring secured adjacent its upper portion'to said spring rest and extending over the rearwardly projecting portion of said spring rest and attached adjacent the lower portion of said spring to said lower member, whereby said spring urges said lower member towards a forward position and arrests the forward swinging motion of said lower member at a predetermined point with respect to said upper member, and a plate secured to said spring rest and having a downwardly extending tongue located rearwardly of said spring 1 5. An artificial limb joint construction comprising an upper member and a lower member, a spring rest carried by said upper member and having a downwardly extending apertured web.

a main sleeve formed of two parts, screwed to-' 'gether and passing through the aperture of said web and having inner shoulders gripping said web, said sleeve fitting within the lower portion of said upper member and having outer shoulders clamping the lower portion of said upper member between them, ball bearings having outer races carried adjacent the ends of said main sleeve and having inner races, said lower member having a pair of spaced arms on opand carried by said spring rest and having its.

lower end secured to said lower member of said artificial limb.

6. An artificial leg joint construction com member by the headed member, a main body portion locked to said upper leg member and comprising a composite main sleeve formed of two opposed parts locked together by screw threaded interengaging portions, an inner sleeve located within said main sleeve, anti-friction bearings located adjacent opposite ends of said main sleeve and having inner and outer races, said outer races being carried by said main sleeve, side members carried by said lower leg portion, and a bolt extending through said inner sleeve and said side members and locking said inner races rigidly between the ends of said inner sleeve and the corresponding side members, the parts of said main sleeve having shoulders thereon and said upper leg member having its lower portion tightly "gripped between said shoulders when the two parts of said main sleeve are locked together by said interengaging screw threaded portions, said bolt exerting no clamping pressure on said upper leg member.

7. An artificial leg joint construction compris ing an upper leg member and a lower leg member, a main body portion locked to said upper leg, member and'comprising a composite main sleeve'formed of two opposed parts locked together by screw threaded interengaging portions,.an inner sleeve located within said main sleeve, anti-friction bearings located adjacent inner and outer races, said'outer races being carried by said main sleeve, side members car-v prising an upper leg member and a lower leg 30 opposite ends of said main sleeve and having ends of said inner sleeve and the corresponding 5 side members, the parts of said main sleeve having shoulders thereon and said upper leg member having its lower portion tightly gripped between said shoulders when the two parts of. said main sleeve are locked together by said interengaging screw threaded portions, said bolt having a head at one end engaging one side member and being threaded into the other side member, and a locking nut screwed on said bolt and locking said bolt against unscrewing, said bolt exerting no clamping pressure on said upper leg member. I

comprising a composite main sleeve formed of V two opposed sleeves locked together by screw threaded interengaging portions, an inner sleeve located within said main sleeve, ball bearings located adjacent opposite ends of said main sleeve and having inner and outer races, said outer races being carried by the end portions of said main sleeve, side members carried by the other leg portion, and a bolt extending through said inner sleeve and engaging the side members, said bolt locking the inner races tightly between opposite ends of said inner sleeve and the corresponding side members, said main sleeve having headed ends clamping a portion of said first mentioned leg member between such headed portions when the two members of said main sleeve are screwed together, said main sleeve having means associated therewith to limit the clamping pressure imposed on the first mentioned leg ends of said main sleeve.

WILLIAM J. DIDIER. 

